Enugu, Nigeria — The family of Chinyere Susan Rosemary Ugwu, a young Enugu-based event planner popularly known as ITCHINNYS, has rejected media reports linking her alleged mürder solely to an HIV-related dispute and called for a transparent, evidence-based investigation into the circumstances of her d3ath.
Rosemary’s immediate elder sister, Kenechi Maryam, issued the family’s statement on Thursday. She said relatives were questioning claims that Rosemary was k!lled because of HIV, stressing that such assertions must not be treated as established fact until a full investigation is completed.
Maryam noted that she, her younger brother, their parents, and an aunt who is a police officer were present during an interview with the suspect in the presence of the state Commissioner of Police.
According to Maryam, the suspect initially spoke of using a pestle to attack Rosemary but later gave a different account when questioned about injuries, including those to her head and neck, mentioning a machete.
The family wants authorities to determine exactly what happened, the cause of the injuries, and the weapon or object used. Maryam also raised questions about the reported concealment of the body inside a toilet in the apartment and about items allegedly found there, including a calabash, candles, and red cloth or rope. She further asked about the reported condition of one of her sister’s wrists.
“These are not conclusions from me. They are questions that require proper investigation and evidence,” Maryam stated. She appealed to police, medical professionals, and other authorities for a thorough, transparent, and impartial probe.
The family also urged journalists, bloggers, human rights advocates, lawyers, and responsible social media users not to reduce Rosemary’s d3ath to an unverified headline. Anyone with genuine information, photographs, videos, or other credible evidence was asked to preserve it and submit it to the family or the appropriate authorities.
“We are not asking anyone to take the law into their own hands. We are asking for truth, due process and justice,” she said. Describing her sister as a hard-working, ambitious young woman who was building a life for herself, Maryam added: “My sister was someone’s daughter. She was someone’s sister. She was someone’s friend. She had dreams, plans and a future. Whatever the circumstances surrounding her d3ath, she deserves to have the truth established.”
Police had earlier reported the arrest of 30-year-old Okpara Emmanuel (also referred to in some accounts as Okpara Chibuike Emmanuel) in connection with the alleged ki!lling. According to the Enugu State Police Command, the incident occurred at Olympic Layout, One-Day area of Enugu. Preliminary accounts indicated that the suspect allegedly k!lled the woman, initially identified only as Chinyere, on or about September 19, 2026, wrapped her remains in nylon, and locked them inside the toilet of his apartment. Neighbours were alerted by the offensive odour of the decomposing body, forced the door open, and apprehended the suspect before police arrived. He was later rescued from an angry mob and re-arrested by operatives of the Awkunanaw Division around 6:30 p.m. on September 21.
During preliminary interrogation, police said the suspect confessed that the incident followed an argument over allegations of who infected the other with HIV. He stated that he struck the deceased on the head with a pestle, resulting in her d3ath. The body was evacuated to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy, and the Commissioner of Police directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a discreet and thorough investigation.
The family has now formally identified the deceased as Chinyere Susan Rosemary Ugwu and is pressing for full clarification of the facts beyond the initial suspect statements and early media reports. Investigations remain ongoing.
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